Irish Delegation Visits Region as University of Pittsburgh Football Team Eyes Dublin in 2027

As part of the promotion of the 2027 Aer Lingus College Football Classic, scheduled to be played between the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Wisconsin next August in Dublin, Pittsburgh International Airport helped host an Irish delegation visit last week.

Representatives from the city of Dublin, Aer Lingus, game organizers and others visited Pittsburgh, attending both the Pitt football game on Saturday and the Steelers game on Sunday among other stops.

Aer Lingus flight attendants pose for a photo with the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team mascot, Roc the Panther, on Oct. 11, 2026. (Courtesy of Aer Lingus)

Dublin Lord Mayor Daryl Barron spoke to a packed luncheon relaying Dublin officials’ excitement in hosting another Pittsburgh football team and putting on a great visitor experience as part of the game celebration.

“It’s very, very important that we have a great event jam packed with tailgates, jam packed with all types of events in Dublin city next year,” Barron said. “For us, it’s a great honor to have you there.”

Pittsburgh has a history of flooding Dublin with fans during football games. The Pittsburgh Steelers, a flagship franchise for the NFL, defeated the Minnesota Vikings in a regular season game in 2025 as black and gold filled the Emerald Isle for weeks surrounding the game.

The airport will be working with Aer Lingus on continued support of the nonstop flight between Pittsburgh and Dublin throughout the next year. The route, connecting Pittsburgh and Dublin nonstop for the first time, began in May 2026.

An Aer Lingus flight attendant poses for a photo with a Terrible Towel during the Pittsburgh Steelers versus Indianapolis Colts game at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 12, 2026. (Courtesy of Aer Lingus)

Aer Lingus’ Chief Customer Officer Susanne Carberry talked with Blue Sky News about the upcoming College Football Classic and her love of Pittsburgh.

Q: What does it mean for you to be a part of this delegation with the University of Pittsburgh going to Ireland next year?

A: We get excited about a college football game every single year but there’s something extra special about next year. Bringing the Pitt Panthers into Dublin and also building on those ties that we’re going to have for years and years to come to align with the operation of the direct service between Pittsburgh and Dublin is something which really makes a lot of hard work really, really worthwhile.

Q: How important is it to have these types of connections in building for the success of the flight?

A: Our business is built on people. Our mission is to connect people, places and possibilities and we do that through meeting people; through creating opportunities for families, for businesses, for communities – and, grassroots through the University of Pittsburgh as well. This gives us a fantastic opportunity to be able to do that.

Q: Is this your first time in Pittsburgh?

A: No, I’ve been in Pittsburgh before and I love it each time more and more. This city still dazzles me every time I walk through it – from the buildings to the architecture but mostly the people. It feels like a home away from home. When you’re chatting with people and then you tell them you’re Irish, you get a little bit of an extra special reaction so I love Pittsburgh.